Creative Biz Fund to support South Africa’s creative entrepreneurs
Government says the fund will encourage collaboration between industry players and financial intermediaries to address the unique financing needs of creative enterprises.
The Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Tembisa Ndabeni, is set to officially launch the Creative Biz Fund in Soweto on Saturday, 26 September 2026, in a move aimed at strengthening South Africa’s creative economy and creating more opportunities for entrepreneurs in the sector.
According to the Department of Small Business Development, the fund was developed following consultations with creative industry stakeholders, including discussions held during the CreativeBiz Nexus in Durban earlier this year. These engagements focused on identifying the business development and financing challenges faced by creative entrepreneurs.
Government says South Africa’s creative economy contributed an estimated R271.2 billion to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023 while supporting around 1.4 million jobs. The new fund is intended to build on this contribution by helping creative businesses grow and become more sustainable.
The Creative Biz Fund will initially focus on three key sectors of the creative economy: clothing, textiles, footwear and leather; music and sound recording; and the content economy, which includes film, television, immersive technologies and digital media.
Unlike traditional funding programmes, the initiative will combine financial support with technical assistance.
Government says the fund will encourage collaboration between industry players and financial intermediaries to address the unique financing needs of creative enterprises.
The launch event will bring together government leaders, creative practitioners, entrepreneurs and industry stakeholders. Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in masterclasses presented by prominent creatives, who will share practical insights on building successful and sustainable careers in the creative industries.
Minister Ndabeni is expected to deliver the keynote address, where she will officially launch the fund and outline government’s commitment to strengthening South Africa’s creative economy.
The Creative Biz Fund launch will take place at Elka Oval in Soweto from 9am on Saturday, 26 September 2026.
